Occurrence and distribution of antibiotics in mariculture farms, estuaries and the coast of the Beibu Gulf, China: Bioconcentration and diet safety of seafood

Abstract The occurrence, distribution, bioconcentration and diet safety via seafood consumption of 19 antibiotics were investigated in eight closed mariculture ponds, four estuaries, two nearshore areas and one offshore area from the Beibu Gulf. Seventeen, 16, 15 and 7 antibiotics were detected at total concentrations of 43.2 − 885 ng L−1, 22.4 − 118 ng L−1, 22.7 − 24.5 ng L−1, and 1.81–3.23 ng L−1 in the water of the above different areas, respectively. This indicates that the mariculture ponds are important sources of antibiotic pollution on the coast of the Beibu Gulf. Ten antibiotics were detected in feed samples with concentrations ranging from 0.03 to 95.4 ng g−1, demonstrating the presence of antibiotics in the feed and/or residual antibiotics in the raw material of the feed. The field bioconcentration factors (BCFs) of the antibiotics calculated in different culture organisms ranged from 0.55 to 10,774 L kg−1. The estimated daily intakes (EDIs) of sulphonamides, fluoroquinolones, macrolides and chloramphenicols via aquatic products were 19.8–105, 33.7–178, 34.9–186 and 6.9–37.1 ng d−1, respectively. According to the acceptable daily intakes (ADIs) and maximum residue limits (MRLs) proposed by different organisations, these aquatic products (shrimp, crab and oyster) reached the standard of safe consumption and could not pose a health risk to humans. However, a potential elevated risk to humans may remain because of the occurrence of multiple antibiotics in the cultured organisms, particularly for sensitive populations, such as pregnant women, the elderly and children.